“A Christmas Story” Comes Home Opens November 12

Thursday, November 10, 2016 10:00 PM

This holiday season, the "A Christmas Story" Comes Home exhibit, presented in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, will be on display from Nov. 12, 2016 until Dec. 31, 2016 at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond. The exhibit takes visitors to the streets of downtown Hohman, a fictional Indiana town which was a disguise for author, Jean Shepherd's, hometown Hammond.

"A Christmas Story" Comes Home exhibit features six animated scenes from the holiday classic "A Christmas Story." The displays include Higbee's Department Store Window, Flick's Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It's a Major Award, Santa's Mountain at Higbee's, The Bumpus Hounds and A Hero's Dream.

In addition to the exhibit, visitors will have the opportunity to see Flick have his tongue stuck to a flag pole, a bronze homage to the classic scene from the movie, in front of the Indiana Welcome Center.

The Indiana Welcome Center is located at the intersection of I-80/94 and Kennedy Avenue South in Hammond; only 30 minutes from downtown Chicago and two hours north of Indianapolis.

Special Events

"A Major Event" will be held Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Indiana Welcome Center and kicks off the holiday events. The Welcome Center will be bustling with children's activities from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and a cozy holiday market from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and feature handcrafted and specialty items and hot cocoa and gourmet food. "A Major Event" kid's activities include a passenger train - kids can ride for just $1! "Flick" Bingo, movie showings, crafts and a visit to Santa atop Santa's Mountain.

"Oh Fuuudge!" Tire Changing Relay is an event that pays tribute to the events leading up to Ralphie blurting out "the-queen-mother-of-dirty-words," will be held on Saturday, Dec.10. Parent/child teams will run through an obstacle course and prizes will be awarded to the pair with the best time. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., and the event begins at 10:00 a.m.

The popular "Mommy's Little Piggy" Mashed Potato Eating Contest features plates mounded with mashed potatoes and contestants of different age groups showing how the piggies eat and will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17. Registration will start at 9:30 a.m., and the first wave of participants will begin at 10:00 a.m.
A special theatrical performance of "A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play" will follow Mommy's Little Piggy contest. The Crown Point Community Theatre will perform at 1:00 p.m. in the 100-seat theater at the Welcome Center. The performance is free and open to the public.

All events are held at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond and registrations are available online at www.AChristmasStoryComesHome.com.

Letters to Santa, live entertainment and more!

Bring the whole family to enjoy live entertainment on the weekends and write letters to Santa and drop them in the big mailbox in the exhibit hall! Request to view the documentary "The Untold Christmas Story" in the 100-seat theater, vote on the ugliest leg lamp and favorite holiday tree or participate in the Write a Theme Contest - the exhibit is packed with fun for the whole family. More information is available online at www.AChristmasStoryComesHome.com.

Relive the "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" scene atop Santa's Mountain

Have your picture taken with Santa on top of Santa's Mountain, a replica of the one featured in the movie. In the famous scene, Ralphie Parker tells Santa what he wants for Christmas, and Santa responds, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

Photos with Santa on Santa's Mountain are available between Thanksgiving and Christmas, every Saturday and Sunday between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Indiana Welcome Center; photos are also available on Nov 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Children have the opportunity to slide down a big red slide into a pillow of snow. Photos are $6 each.

Wag Your Tail Wednesdays

Don't miss the opportunity to have your pet photographed with Santa on Santa's Mountain. Pet photos with Santa will be available Wednesday, Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Photos are $6 each, and $1 of every photo is given to local animal rescues. Well-behaved animals only.

The Parker Living Room

See an additional "A Christmas Story" Comes Home animated display window this year at Cabela's in Hammond! This year, Cabela's will display The Parker Living Room through the holiday season. Cabela's is located one-mile from the Welcome Center at 7700 Cabela Drive in Hammond.

More Information

Visit www.AChristmasStoryComesHome.com for a complete list of special events, contests, hours of operation and directions. The Welcome Center gift shop offers an array of movie memorabilia including the infamous leg lamp!